The Best in Fall Sports 2012

Men’s soccer players celebrates their win in the Big Ten Tournament Championship game Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012, at Lakeside Field at Northwestern in Evanston, Ill. The Spartans beat the Wolverines, 2-1, in overtime. Julia Nagy/The State News

With the fall semester coming to a close, the State News sports desk gathered around its very small round table to discuss the season’s top performers and come up with the best of the best of the best in MSU sports in the fall. Arguments were made, deriding laughter was heard, tears were shed, but we finally compiled the official State News Best in Fall Sports 2012.

Coach of the fall: Cathy George

To say MSU volleyball head coach Cathy George moved the program a couple steps forward just would be an understatement. While coaching in the toughest volleyball conference in the nation, she achieved her 500th career win and defeated three top-10 teams, including an NCAA Tournament victory against defending national champion No. 7 UCLA to advance to the Spartans’ first Sweet Sixteen since 2007.

Male athlete of the fall: Le’Veon Bell

Junior running back Le’Veon Bell had a season for the ages, leading the Big Ten in rushing during the regular season and finishing with the second-highest single-season rushing total in program history with 1,648 rushing yards.

Female athlete of the fall: Annie Steinlage

Junior defender Annie Steinlage was the glue that held the MSU women’s soccer team together. She anchored a defense that was fourth in the Big Ten in goals allowed (24) and sixth in goals against average (1.21). Steinlage started all 19 games the Spartans played, was second on the team with five assists and 11 points and tied for third on the team with three goals, two of them being of the game-winning variety.

“(Junior forward) Annalise (Pickrel) is more about finesse. I’m a little bit more of a go out and hit somebody type of deal.” — Courtney Schiffauer, comparing herself with Pickrel

Tweet(s) of the fall: Bryce Dobbins and Derrick Nix

Although he’s since deleted his account, Derrick Nix’s “R.I.P. ta da competition” tweets after each MSU win had become a staple in the postgame timelines of his followers, while Dobbins’ ponderings about the bowel movements of an MSU legend exhibit the quirkiness of his own account.

Bryce Dobbins (@BDobbins29): Sitting on the toilet in Jenison Field House wondering if just maybe (Magic Johnson) used the same seat back in the day #vintagedumpAlyssa Girardi, Dillon Davis, Beau Hayhoe

Le’Veon Bell (@L_Bell24): I expected all the hate, but idc … we legitimately lost ONE game this year … and that was Notre Dame! The black & white team beat us 4 times — after pass interference call cost MSU a win against Nebraska

Bryce Dobbins (@BDobbins29): The dexterity, balance, and perseverance of peeing on a bus is comparable to playing a D1 sport especially under tunnels #aimbyfaithnotsightZach Smith

Nick Hill (@N_Hill2032): Even a blind squirrel can get a nut ever(y) once in a while … — on Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson’s 71-yard completion against Alabama

Game of the fall: Men’s soccer wins Big Ten Tournament

When the MSU men’s soccer team traveled to Northwestern for the Big Ten Tournament, the players and staff knew it was a title or bust. With a regular-season record below .500, an NCAA Tournament appearance only would come with a Big Ten Tournament win. In the title game, the Spartans beat rival Michigan, 2-1, in overtime to earn a Big Ten Tournament championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance.